Hey guys! Did you get the Windows Defender Update issue pretty often on your system? If yes, then do not anxious, as today in this post, I will discuss some easy workarounds to rectify this bug or error. Microsoft always tries to bring a daily update of each component. Windows Defender is a Security app receives the update from time to time. So, this is our turn to keep this software up-to-date. Windows Defender is so famous these days that you can even remove the purchased antivirus from your system.
I will focus on Perform Automatic Update, Update Windows Defender using the Command prompt or Update the same manually. Besides, the update process could fail to owe to some errors such as registry malfunction, NIS issue, or sue to the presence of third-party Antivirus, etc. I will see the solution to each section in this article. In the end, I will cover the last resort, i.e., Enable the Windows Defender by using Group Policy if disabled. Thus, read this article in detail and sort any complexity that exists on your Windows Defender Antivirus.
Is Windows Defender Update necessary?
The days are gone when the Windows defender was considered just a plain and simple app. These days, windows Defender is regarded as one of the best anti-malware software out there that aims to protect your system from all sorts of issues. It includes Real-Time Protection, Device Performance, health, Parental Controls, App & Browser Control, and Device Security.
Must Keep in mind the various functions performed by this software; updating Windows Defender is an excellent idea. It will provide you an upper hand in comparison to all those free antivirus programs. Briefly, Windows Defender Update is, in reality, a much-required task.
1. Perform Automatic Update
2. Update Windows Defender using Command Prompt
3. Network Inspection System updates
4. Download and install the update
5. Remove third-party antivirus software
6. Perform full Scan
7. Restart Security Center Service
8. Enabling Windows Defender from Group Policy
9. Delete conflicting Registry Entry
Here’s how to update Windows Defender Antivirus
Here’s the simple process to update Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10.
1. Perform Automatic Update
An automatic update is a fast and easy way to update Windows Security. This process, by default, downloads the newest version and applies it to the Windows Defender Security app. To do this, follow the simple process below:
1. Press the Up Arrow on Taskbar, then select the Windows Security icon here.
2. Tap on the Virus & threat protection category. Afterward, scroll down the cursor to reach the Check for updates option.
3. On the same page, press the Check for Updates button.
This process will look for the pending available updates. Install the same on your PC now.
2. Update Windows Defender using Command Prompt
Sometimes the Enterprise Administrator can even send push updates to endpoints on their network. You can quickly use a batch script to run the following commands, so the definition cache is cleared. Just keep in mind to use the prompt with administrative privileges.
1. Press Win logo & R hotkey to launch the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd, then simultaneously press Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut to launch Command Prompt as administrator.
3. If the UAC prompt pop-ups up, tap Yes to authorize the access.
4. Copy and paste the below code one by one and hit Enter at the end of each command.
cd %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender MpCmdRun.exe -removedefinitions -dynamicsignatures MpCmdRun.exe -SignatureUpdate
5. Once the process is completed, the Windows Defender will automatically get updated.
3. Network Inspection System updates
The NIS (Network Inspection System) is there to save and protect your system from any hazard from the network. The vital role of this is to inspect the attack from the client then control System Center Endpoint Protection, Forefront Endpoint Protection, & Microsoft Security Essentials.
Besides, to update Network Real-time Inspection, firstly, make sure the version of running antivirus Client component.
Afterward, download the same, i.e., either 32-bit, 64-bit, according to your system architecture.
4. Download & install the update
To update Windows Defender manually on your system, you are required to follow the below-described methods.
1. Firstly go to the system tray and tap on the File Explorer icon.
2. Tap on This PC option, then choose Properties from the context menu.
3. Afterward, again on the same page, get your system’s detailed configuration, either 32-bit (x86-based) or 64-bit (x64-based).
4. Now tap on the below link depending upon your System architecture, to download the Windows Defender Antivirus file. 32-bit | 64-bit | ARM.
5. Save the file at a particular location on your PC.
6. Now touch the file, which displays as win10-mpam-fe-x86.exe on 64-bit Windows.
7. And for 32-bit Windows, you can see the win10-mpam-fe-x64.exe file. Select according to your system configuration to manually update the Windows Defender Antivirus.
8. When the above process is finished, the Security software of your system starts working well.
5. Remove third-party antivirus software
If you’ve third-party antivirus software installed on your system, they probably also be the culprit behind Windows Defender not updating issue. Thus, the best thing is to uninstall the anti-spyware programs from your system. Here are the simple steps to follow:
1. Jointly hit the Windows key, and I shortcut to open Settings.
2. Press the Apps category and switch to the right pane of Apps and features.
3. Now scroll the cursor and select the Anti-malware program from the list.
4. Once found, tap on the same and hit the Uninstall button.
5. Here click again on the Uninstall button to confirm the changes.
6. Wait till the process gets finished; afterward, retry to update the Windows Defender again.
6. Perform full Scan
When there’s a fault in the system files, they could hamper your PC’s smooth performance. As a result, you cannot update your Windows Defender. You can use the system file checker command here, that is, SFC/scannow. It’ll scan the faulty file then try to repair the same.
1. Go to Cortana & type Command Prompt.
2. Right-tap on the well-matched result, then select Run as administrator.
3. If the UAC prompt pop-ups, tap Yes to allow access.
4. Near the blinking cursor, copy/paste sfc/scannow, and press Enter at the end.
5. It is a time taking process, so wait patiently. When the task is completed, Reboot your system and try the above methods to update Windows Security.
7. Restart Security Center Service
In case even after trying the sfc/ scannow command does not bring the desired result, you can try resetting Security Center Service. Follow the below steps to proceed ahead.
1. Firstly Press the Win+ R shortcut to open Run.
2. In the blank box, type services.msc and press OK.
3. Scroll down the cursor & locate Security Center.
4. Now Right-click on the same and press the Restart option.
8. Delete conflicting Registry Entry
Conflict in the registry editor can even bring abrupt changes and therefore result in Windows Defender Update Error. Follow these easy steps to reset settings on the Registry Editor.
Step-1: At first, press Windows key + R hotkey to open the Run dialogue box. Or, you can go to Start and search for ‘Run.’
Step-2: Now type ‘regedit‘ and hit enter. It will open the Registry Editor. Here navigate to the following path-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
Step-3: Here, search for MSASCui.exe, MpCmdRun.exe, or MsMpEng.exe.
Step-4: If found, then right tap and hit Delete. In case you do not get any of the files mentioned above, close this editor.
9. Enabling Windows Defender from Group Policy
If any of these solutions are not working on your system, try this method as a last resort.
In some situations, you can receive the message, “Group Policy turns off this app.” If that’s the case, Windows Defender needs activation using the registry editor. You’ll face this situation only when there is another antivirus enabled on your system. Therefore, it is necessary to remove any conflicting application before force allows the Windows to Defender manually. To enable Windows Defender by using Registry Editor, follow these easy steps:
1. Go to the Start button, then type run. Double-tap on the best-matched option to let open the Run.
2. Type Regedit in the void then presses enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. When Registry Editor opens up, navigate to the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
4. On the right pane, here if you see a registry DisableAntiSpyware, then set its value to 0.
5. In case the above key is not there, you should create the same, then perform the later function.
6. Make a right-tap on the Windows Defender Key and select the New DWORD option here. Rename this file to DisableAntiSpyware. Afterward, change its value to 0.
7. At last, save this key, then exit from the Registry Editor.
Final Words
I sincerely hope this time, the Windows Defender Update issue has resolved on your system. If you have any problems or queries related to this article, ask us from the comment box.